Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Laser Surgery & Your School Age Student


Laser surgery can seem scary especially when performed on your infant. While some dentists may recommend you wait if your baby has a maxillary frenum, Dr. Judy Strutz believes taking care of this early on is important. An excessive maxillary frenum can decrease your baby’s ability to eat correctly now as well as in the future. Their ability to speak correctly can also be affected.
            Children that enter school with a frenum may be unable to pronounce certain sounds. If a child by the age of five is unable to say some sounds correctly it may be that they are never able to say them without difficulty. Unfortunately, other children tease or make fun of those with these challenges. It can often become quite frustrating for the child with a frenum when peers ask them to repeat what they are saying. 

“It is possible that some frenum’s will correct themselves over time, I’m just not sure it’s worth the risk to their self esteem to take the chance,” says Dr.Judy Strutz.

            Curriculum requirements mean that students are reading at earlier ages then years ago and are required to orally express their thoughts and understanding of problems. A frenum can impact a student’s ability to not only pronounce certain sounds but to also hear correct sounds when blending.  Research suggests students who are more engaged with their education have increased understanding of concepts.  A combination of increased rigor and increased competition in schools to perform at the top add an immense amount of pressure to a student.

            A child struggling to speak correctly because of this extra piece of skin between their teeth will many times experience decreased self-esteem, causing them to speak in school less and less. An inability to express their understanding of a problem has a tremendous impact on their overall educational opportunities and could impact them for years to come. When faced with these challenges against the ease of a minor laser procedure, the choice is easy.

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